SPRUCE HEAD / Standish- Maureen E Buckley of Spruce Head, Maine died on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 after a three-year battle with cancer. She was only 64 years old. Maureen was surrounded by love in her final days with visits from beloved friends, nieces, and nephews while at the home of her sister Lynne (Buckley) Roughton.
Maureen devoted her life and career to healthcare. She graduated from Bonny Eagle High School and then attended the University of Southern Maine where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. After several years as a practicing RN, she attended the University of Illinois Chicago, graduating with a Masters in Nursing Administration and then a PhD in Nursing Science. With over 40 years as both a practicing nurse and nurse manager, she worked for recognized healthcare institutions like Dartmouth Hitchcock of New Hampshire, Loyola Medicine’s McNeal Hospital of Greater Chicago, and Penobscot Bay Hospital of Rockport, Maine. The last 15 years of her career were spent as a Senior Director in the FTI Healthcare Consulting practice where she traveled the country working in various hospitals, advocating for improvements in efficiency and patient care.
Chicago was a home-away-from-home for Maureen, and she thrived in the Windy City, both during her time in graduate school and later at McNeal. She shared her favorite city experiences with visitors, leaving indelible marks on them, especially her nieces and nephews. She taught them how to navigate public transit and appreciate good sushi, and she opened their eyes to great comedy at Second City. Maureen knew what she loved and loved sharing it with others.
After her time in the Midwest, Maureen returned home to Maine, which was always part of her plan. She joined PenBay Hospital and began building new friendships - friendships that would eventually lead to purchasing land on the coast, a life-long goal.
Maureen loved Maine and her family more than anything else. She counted herself blessed to have a home by the water, and she relished the quality time spent with family and friends who came to visit her spot on the ocean.
Maureen had a passion for cooking with only the best ingredients, following recipes she saved to her phone’s photo album any time she came across a particularly good one. She was exacting in her efforts to build the perfect bite with her food, savoring the combination of flavors that would best highlight her dish.
She found joy in gardens, both seeking them out on her travels and in her annual ritual of potting up flowers and herbs to enjoy all season long. Maureen planted Maine blueberry bushes near her porch overlooking the water, and was adamant that her great nieces and nephews needed to come in the summer and pick them before the birds enjoyed a feast.
Maureen’s favorite color was green, her favorite Disney character was Tigger, and she left the world eternally frustrated that she’ll never know how Outlander ends.
Maureen was taken from this world too soon. She worked hard her whole life and loved the work she did. She would often multitask between work and play during vacations, regretting later that she didn’t turn off her “work brain” more readily. She later realized that she subconsciously pushed off that earned break time until retirement - time that was unfortunately cut short. In Maureen’s last months, she shared with her family how much she wished she had made different choices and prioritized being more present while on vacation. She hoped that her family and friends would learn from her experiences and enjoy their time off from work and obligations more generously.
Maureen will be remembered in a private family ceremony at a date to be determined. Donations in remembrance of Maureen can be made directly to the Spruce Head Community Hall and Historical Association at PO Box 323, Spruce Head, ME 04859, or donations can be made for the same organization at this GoFundMe site: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-in-memory-of-maureen-buckley"
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras Funeral Homes, www.mainefuneral.com